6 Consideration for victims in juvenile cases

With regard to juvenile cases, the Juvenile Act was revised (by Act No. 142 of 2000) and measures have been implemented since April 1, 2001 in thereby allowing victims, etc. to inspect/copy the records of juvenile cases and to request to express their opinions and to be informed of the main text of the ruling, etc. In addition, the Juvenile Act was then revised again (by Act No. 71 of 2008) in thereby further protecting the rights and benefits of victims, etc. The revision expanded the range of subjects who can express opinions from July 8, 2008. The revision also resulted, from December 15, 2008, in a system that enabled victims, etc. of certain serious cases to observe the proceedings on the date of the hearing of the case and a system in which family courts explain the status of the proceedings on the date of the hearing to victims, etc., while at the same time relaxing the requirements for and expanding the scope of inspections and the copying of records of juvenile cases. In 2011, 1,083 victims, etc. filed requests to inspect/copy the records of juveniles cases (of which 1,075 were deemed appropriate), 384 requests to express opinions (370 (id.)), and 1,213 requested notification of the main text of the ruling (1,207 (id)). In addition, 120 victims, etc. were allowed to observe the proceedings on the date of the hearing in 67 cases, and explanations were provided on the status of the proceedings on the date of the hearing to 488 victims, etc. in 2011 (Source: The General Secretariat, Supreme Court).

Furthermore, victims, etc. have been notified of matters regarding the status of the treatment, etc. of juveniles subjected under protective measures since December 2007. Victims, etc. have been notified of, upon request, the name of the juvenile training school where juvenile perpetrators are being detained, the status of their training at that juvenile training school, their date of release, and the reason for their release by the directors of juvenile training schools, matters regarding the commencement of parole examinations and decisions by Regional Parole Boards, and any other matters regarding the commencement/status/termination of probation/parole supervision of juveniles by the directors of probation offices. In 2011 a total of 283 notifications were made on treatment at juvenile training schools, 139 on parole examinations, and 455 on the status of probation/parole supervision (Source: The Correction Bureau and the Rehabilitation Bureau, Ministry of Justice).